Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (née María Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla; born 22 March 1956) is the spouse and Grand Duchess of Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg.

Early life and education

Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, was born in Marianao, Havana, Cuba, to José Antonio Mestre y Alvarez (Vedado, Havana, 1926 -) and wife (m. Vedado, Havana, 1951) María Teresa Batista y Falla de Mestre (Vedado, Havana, 1928–1988), both from families of the bourgeoisie and Spanish nobility (including some Conquistadors) and also of Irish and Amerindian descent. Direct descendant of Ricardo O'Farrill. On 26 March 1713 the English Slave-Trading Agreement (asiento) was signed, which would remain in force for thirty years, and for this purpose the South Sea Company was created and obtained the monopoly for supplying enslaved Africans to all the Spanish possessions. Ricardo O’Farrill and Wergent Nicholson ran a company in Havana which also had a branch in Santiago de Cuba run by Messrs. Cumberlege and Walsh.^[1]

In October 1959, at the time of the revolution, Maria Teresa Mestre left Cuba with her parents. The family settled in New York City, New York, where, as a young girl, she was a pupil at Marymount School. From 1961 she carried on her studies at the Lycée Français de New York. In her childhood, Maria Teresa Mestre took ballet and singing courses. She practices skiing, ice-skating and water sports. She lived in New York City, Santander, Spain and Geneva, where she met the Grand Duke.

In 1980 she graduated from the University of Geneva in political sciences. Miss Mestre met Prince Henri at this university. For four years they both carried on similar studies, working sometimes in the same study groups. Miss Mestre was for instance, the author of a report comparing legislation concerning women and motherhood within the European Union.

Social and human interests

During the same period she took an ever increasing interest in social and human problems, following the family tradition which had allegedly brought her grandparents to devote themselves to philanthropy and cultural tasks in Cuba.

Besides her studies, Miss Mestre was a member of a group in Geneva taking interest in the well-being of residents of retirement homes. She also taught children in a Geneva classroom.

As a native Cuban, Spanish is her native language, and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa knows French thoroughly, having carried on her studies at the French School (Lycée Vauban) and in Switzerland. When she was young, she learned English. After her marriage she learned Luxembourgish, and she also speaks German.

In 2006, the Grand Duchess received the Path to Peace Award from a Holy See Foundation for her "relentless contribution to humanitarian causes."

She is the President of the Luxembourg Red Cross.

On 19 April 2007, the Grand Duchess was appointed UNICEF Eminent Advocate for Children ^[2], in which role she has visited Brazil (2007) ^[3], China (2008) ^[4], and Burundi (2009) ^[5].

Family

Maria Teresa Mestre married Prince Henri of Luxembourg on 4 February/14 February 1981 with previous consent of the Grand Duke dated 7 November 1980. They have five children and two grandchildren:

1. Prince Guillaume Jean Joseph Marie, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg (b. 11 November 1981)
2. Prince Félix Léopold Marie Guillaume (b. 3 June 1984)
3. Prince Louis Xavier Marie Guillaume (b. 3 August 1986), married to Princess Tessy
   1. Prince Gabriel Michael Louis Ronny of Nassau (born 12 March 2006), son of Prince Louis and Princess Tessy
   2. Prince Noah Guillaume of Nassau (born 21 September 2007), son of Prince Louis and Princess Tessy
4. Princess Alexandra Joséphine Teresa Charlotte Marie Wilhelmine (b. 16 February 1991)
5. Prince Sébastien Henri Marie Guillaume (b. 16 April 1992)

Ancestry

Footnotes

External links

• Ancestry of Maria Teresa Mestre (b. 1956), Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
• Grand-Ducal House of Luxembourg
• The Mentor Foundation charity website